Tuesday, April 6, 2010
My Thoughts on Wikipedia
We all must have heard of Wikipedia by now. I'm always telling my students not to use it, but then I go and use it all the time. I need to start showing my students how to use it as a starter not as the finish line. However, usually when I use it I never add to it, I find the basic information I need and then move on. Although I haven't added to it I do appreciate the founders creativity in making this site as well as all the people that do take time out to make it what it is. Wikipedia is a great Wiki but I do not think many people use it as a form of communication as much as they do as a source of (not always reliable) information.
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It's also interesting to look at how an article is created and have the students look at the discussion, the page history, and the logs for the page, especially for a fairly controversial topic. I really like when you get one that says the content is under dispute.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with the idea of showing them that they can use it, but it is a starting point, not an ending point. I use it for basic things that I just can't quite remember in casual conversations, or as a way to see what else I should be looking for when it's more academic.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the "under dispute" comments, there are also things that say "citation needed." Hopefully students pay attention to these things when they are using wikipedia, as they make it clear that page is not always 100% accurate.
Students need to learn how to use secondary or back up sources. Wikipedia can be a good starter source, but it can not be the end all, be all. I laughed whe you said that you tell your students not to use it, but then use it all the time. I was actually called out by student who caught me using it. Funny, I have to learn to practice what I preach.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great teaching moment. You can use it to get the discussion going on when it is OK to use it and where you could go to check the information. Alan Liu's policy on student use of Wikipedia might be a good way to direct this conversation: http://www.english.ucsb.edu/faculty/ayliu/courses/wikipedia-policy.html.
ReplyDeleteI heard a speaker who compared Wikipedia with the Microsoft Encarta that used to be available and shipped with many new PCs years ago. Encarta is no longer available, but Wikipedia has taken off. For examples of where this collaborative knowledge development might be going, check out Mashapedia (http://mashpedia.com/).